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County Council Member (At-Large) · Montgomery County · 2026 Primary
At-large county council members represent the entire county rather than a specific geographic district, making decisions that affect all residents. They are responsible for passing local laws, overseeing land use and zoning, and approving the county budget which determines funding for schools, roads, and public safety. This office is vital because these members balance the needs of the whole community to set the county’s long-term priorities and tax rates.
View all candidates in this raceKarla Silvestre is a Silver Spring resident and Democrat currently serving on the Montgomery County Board of Education, where she was elected in 2018 as an at-large member, re-elected in 2022, served two years as Board President, and chairs the Fiscal Management Committee. She works at Montgomery College as director of Community Engagement and previously worked for county government as a community liaison in the Office of Community Partnerships. Silvestre's family fled Guatemala when she was eight years old after her father was blacklisted for organizing with Indigenous farmers; they resettled in America where her parents became undocumented workers despite having college degrees. She earned a BS in Biology from Florida State University and an MS in Teaching English as Second Language from the University of Pennsylvania, then committed her career to expanding access to education and workforce opportunity. Running for County Council At-Large in 2026, she emphasizes protecting opportunity for immigrant families, strengthening local economy amid federal instability, and ensuring affordable housing so teachers and young families can stay.
Sources: Campaign website
"Montgomery County gave my family the opportunities so we could thrive. But right now, too many families are struggling to hold onto that same opportunity. Families are being priced out."
"I once left a country where speaking up carried risk. I'm not leaving this one. Montgomery County is home. I'm running for County Council because I want to protect the opportunity that shaped my life, and make sure it's still here for the families coming next."
"Education opened doors that once felt closed to families like mine. Education changed my life by opening doors that once felt closed to families like mine. I wanted to help open those same doors for others."
"Safety starts with opportunity — education, jobs, and mentorship that reduce crime before it happens. Public safety requires prevention, accountability, and responsible leadership."
"Montgomery County must stand firm in protecting due process and community trust and helping all of our neighbors through these turbulent times."
Source: karlasilvestre.com
Economic Opportunity & Workforce Development
Silvestre will eliminate redundant approvals, streamline permitting without lowering standards, expand apprenticeships, support small and minority-owned businesses, align workforce programs with real job demand, and help federal workers connect to new jobs.
“"On the Council, I will: Eliminate redundant approvals and streamline permitting without lowering standards. Work to lower the cost of child care by expanding options, including family-based child care centers. Expand apprenticeships and pathways to education and employment. Support small and minority-owned businesses. Align workforce programs with real job demand. Help federal workers connect to new jobs. Opportunity should be built — not assumed."”
Housing Affordability & Smart Growth
She supports building more housing near transit, expanding missing middle housing options like townhouses and apartment buildings, speeding up permitting without cutting safety standards, aligning growth with schools and infrastructure, expanding Accessory Dwelling Units, and building mixed-income and deeply affordable housing.
“"If we don't build enough housing, prices will keep rising. That pushes out teachers, young families, and seniors. We need smart growth that meets the moment and our community's needs. On the Council, I will: Support building more housing near transit to give families more affordable options, reduce traffic, and create more walkable communities. Expand 'missing middle' housing options (townhouses and apartment buildings). Speed up permitting without cutting safety standards. Align growth with schools and infrastructure. Ensure new development contributes fairly. Expand the use of Accessory Dwelling Units (basement apartments) as a more affordable housing option. Continue to build mixed-income and deeply affordable housing. If we want families to stay, we have to build for them."”
Public Schools & Student Success
Silvestre will protect sustainable school funding, demand clear transparent budgets showing how funding is being spent, strengthen seamless pathways from MCPS to Montgomery College and four-year institutions, ensure graduation means real post-secondary readiness, and ensure students have experienced teachers and principals.
“"On the Council, I will: Protect sustainable school funding. Demand clear, transparent budgets showing how the funding is being spent. Strengthen seamless pathways from MCPS to Montgomery College, four-year institutions, and high-demand career programs. Ensure graduation means real post-secondary readiness. Ensure our students have experienced teachers and principals, strong academics, and safe schools. Diplomas must open doors."”
Immigration & Inclusion
She will protect access to county services without fear, support legal and crisis assistance for immigrant families, strengthen language access across agencies, partner with trusted community organizations, stand firmly for due process and family unity, and ensure full accessibility in housing, transit, and public spaces.
“"On the Council, I will: Protect access to county services without fear. Support legal and crisis assistance for immigrant families. Strengthen language access across agencies. Partner with trusted community organizations. Stand firmly for due process, family unity, and the right of every resident to access schools and services without fear. Ensure full accessibility in housing, transit, and public spaces so people with disabilities can fully participate in community life. Inclusion must be backed by real support systems."”
Seniors & Aging in Place
Silvestre will expand programs helping seniors safely age in place, strengthen community-based support networks that reduce isolation, improve coordination between housing transportation and health services for older adults, support family caregivers with respite resources, and encourage intergenerational programs connecting seniors with students.
“"On the Council, I will: Expand programs that help seniors safely age in place in their homes and neighborhoods. Strengthen community-based support networks that reduce isolation and help seniors stay connected. Improve coordination between housing, transportation, and health services for older adults. Support family caregivers and ensure they have access to respite and support resources. Encourage intergenerational programs that connect seniors with students and young families. Partner with proven community models that help older adults remain independent and active. Strong communities support people at every stage of life."”
Responsible Budgeting & Good Government
As Chair of the Fiscal Management Committee, she will make budgets easier to understand, evaluate programs based on outcomes, resist unsustainable borrowing, simplify processes that frustrate residents and slow down small businesses without reducing essential public services, protect core services while improving efficiency, and work with county employees to make government more efficient.
“"On the Council, I will: Make budgets easier to understand. Evaluate programs based on outcomes. Resist unsustainable borrowing. Simplify processes that frustrate residents and slow down small businesses — without reducing essential public services. Protect core services while improving efficiency. Make it easier to access services when needed. Work with our county employees to make government more efficient and effective. Good government is steady and accountable."”
Safe Communities & Gun Violence Prevention
She will support strong gun violence prevention focused on illegal firearms, ghost guns, and safe gun storage; expand youth mentorship, street outreach, after-school, and summer employment programs; expand mental health and crisis response coordination; ensure transparent reporting on public safety outcomes; invest in de-escalation and bias training; hire officers who reflect the community.
“"On the Council, I will: Support strong gun violence prevention focused on illegal firearms, ghost guns, and safe gun storage. Expand youth mentorship, street outreach, after-school, and summer employment programs. Expand mental health and crisis response coordination. Ensure transparent reporting on public safety outcomes. Invest in de-escalation and bias training. Hire officers who reflect the community. Safety starts with opportunity — education, jobs, and mentorship that reduce crime before it happens. Public safety requires prevention, accountability, and responsible leadership."”
Climate, Transit & Sustainable Growth
Silvestre supports frequent affordable safe transit, preparing Montgomery County for climate change by upgrading infrastructure, protecting streams and trees, promoting clean energy, making sure all residents especially vulnerable ones are safe and resilient. She will support transit-oriented development in appropriate growth corridors, expand EV charging and energy efficiency infrastructure, protect and preserve the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, align land use decisions with long-term climate goals, and focus on measurable environmental impact and fiscal responsibility.
“"On the Council, I will: Support transit-oriented development in appropriate growth corridors. Expand EV charging and energy efficiency infrastructure. Protect and preserve the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve. Align land use decisions with long-term climate goals. Focus on measurable environmental impact and fiscal responsibility. Sustainability and affordability must go hand in hand."”
Bethesda Magazine reported on September 16, 2025 that Montgomery County school board member Karla Silvestre announced she is running for one of the County Council at-large seats in the 2026 gubernatorial election. The Silver Spring Democrat stated she moved to Montgomery County nearly twenty years ago for jobs, schools, and public amenities like parks and transportation hubs that gave her family a high quality of life. She cited challenges with strained resources and federal actions disrupting workforce and community as reasons for seeking office to strengthen the local economy and provide expected quality of life.
“"I served eight years on the Montgomery County Board of Education, including as Board President. I oversaw a $3.6 billion system and made hard decisions during the pandemic and leadership transition."”
Source“"If we don't build enough housing, prices will keep rising. That pushes out teachers, young families, and seniors. We need smart growth that meets the moment and our community's needs."”
Source“"Safety starts with opportunity — education, jobs, and mentorship that reduce crime before it happens. Public safety requires prevention, accountability, and responsible leadership."”
Source“"We must strengthen our local economy, supporting small businesses and attracting new industries as federal instability reshapes our region."”
Source“"I was eight years old when my family fled Guatemala after my father was blacklisted for organizing with Indigenous farmers. We started over in America with nothing."”
Source“"As Chair of the Fiscal Management Committee, I help oversee one of the largest public budgets in our region. Residents deserve clarity and results."”
Source“"Support small and minority-owned businesses. Simplify processes that frustrate residents and slow down small businesses — without reducing essential public services."”
Source“"Montgomery County should be a place where people can grow older with dignity, independence, and connection to their community."”
Source“"I support preparing Montgomery County for climate change by upgrading infrastructure, protecting our streams and trees, promoting clean energy, and making sure all residents—especially those most vulnerable—are safe and resilient."”
Source“"Protect and preserve the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve. Align land use decisions with long-term climate goals."”
Source“"Focus on measurable environmental impact and fiscal responsibility. Sustainability and affordability must go hand in hand."”
Source“"Montgomery County gave my family the opportunities so we could thrive. But right now, too many families are struggling to hold onto that same opportunity."”
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